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Saturday, March 31, 2007

After the sunshine comes the rainbow!But this is red OR yellow OR pink OR green...This week you can do ANYTHING you like on a card BUT you can only use one colour.I (Lythan) have been very strict with the team and quite frankly enjoy the power when they come begging to be allowed to use just a hint of one other colour. I did in the end allow black for the sentiment particularly if you do an all white card. But the real idea is to have fun with just one colour and see just what variation there is.

Well the brown card below, is my second attempt! My sentiment is stamped in very dark brown, which might as well be black!!!The first card, I thought was shades of pink, but one of the papers looked far too lilac for me. So I made another card. I have a love of brown & finally got my hands on some brown blooms to go with the papers I picked up weeks ago.

Papers are again, DCWV Far East... I am so in love with these!!This card is to say Thank You to my sister for these fantastic flowers & for the cheque she sent me. I can think of a lot of things to buy with it, but being a relatively good Pixie right now...lol... I am going to buy some clothes for my work wardrobe!

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Karma.I truly do.I kept the card quite plain as I adore these Far East textured papers from DCWV. I cut the butterfly from another scetion of this sheet & stuck on the bling to look like cherry blossom..I made it yesterday but it was just too dark to get a decent photo, you know how it is!!!

Monday, March 26, 2007

Here is another Thank You card. This one is for my dear friend, Joy in Bristol.she bought me a fabulous lavender neck pillow which is very good (been used 4 times now!!)I used the tag shape inspired by a card one of my teamies made for me & the papers are Dovecraft Aquamarine. Blossoms by prima a birthday stash pressie.I had a lovely weekend with my Dad. We went to Great Limber to my fav pub New Inn for a steak. Their food is amazing. then we had drinks in Dad's local social club.Sunday we played around with Paintshop pro 9, I only had version 7, but now got my mitts on 9 along with half of my Dad's Australia photos. No excuse for not scrapping now, I have a lot of pics to play with!!!!We played around with the photo of me (used in profile & post below) adding coloured backgrounds it was fun. If you are viewing this through IE6, then the profile is at the bottom & the side bar empty. If you have IE7, then everything is okay. I thought I broke the blog, but it is the version of internet you browse with. Dad has both one on each computer & that's when I found this out!!!

Saturday, March 24, 2007

I have combined the two challenges this week. I have used the Pencil Lines sketch #24, although it has a slight twist to it & I have done it to match the UKS challenge.Spring Theme 10pts well it is my birthday & it is March, springtime.Pink for Mother's Day 10pts pink flowers & card journal stripsSingle picture 5pts pencil lines sketch had 3 but I didnt need more with this pic.at least 1 bloom 5pts I've used 6. 30 bonus points 40 total.

Chipboard flower relief painted purple, flower in the middle of it has a purple dragonfly brad.Flowers given to me for my birthday from Pearl & also from my teamie Rach.Ornate photo corner also a birthday gift...

Well this week has been pretty amazing. I have had such a fantastic time & I got the photos back from the photographer on Thursday night. They are fab. This is one of my particular favs as I look natural as opposed to posing for the camera. My Dad & sister will each get a copy to remind them of this milestone in my life.I fully lived up to my HAPPY word this week. I really do feel quite different. Full of excitement of good things to come. Here's hoping, I am some 10 years behind on good stuff!!!Due to reasons I can't explain on here, I can't do the DCM card dare this week. It would be too hurtful for others.Tonight I am going out for a meal with my Dad & might not get back here until Sunday evening, so have great weekends all, whatever you are up to.xx

Thursday, March 22, 2007

I am steadily getting the Thank You cards designed, made & sent to the recipients. There just isn't enough hours in the day!!!This card was made for Louise, who made my birthday truly memorable & special by organizing the staff collection & booking the make up, nails & photo session. The photo session was part of her gift to me. she got me the gorgeous teddy who is named Ebbets, by the makers. He is a limited edition bear. Then she bought me tea & spent the night getting merry with her partner, Pete, & I.She loves the colour purple so I went with this oriental theme using my new Far East papers from DCWV.The fans are made from strips of the paper & have tiny bling on them.

The prompt this week for the AJ card was Our Initials. Make a card with it.

I painted a wooden "p" white to keep it clear & simple. Added a papermania silk blossom & mini blue brad. Tied pale blue ribbon onto the "p" & stuck a blue sequin flower with blink for the centre. The paper is Aquamarine-Floral Prints by Dovecraft, by a British designer Kate Knight. I loved the Amethyst ones, but they were totally out of stock!!!

This weeks Little Extra was a Theme, for getting those last minute ones made early. The cards you always need to send but only ever make them at the eleventh hour!!

The theme was Get Well & I took the idea from one of my birthday cards, using the rest of the sheet of paper from the AJ card. The flower brads, I've had a while & can't remember the make as they are in tiny boxes these days but the name Accentz springs to mind. Silver peel offs corners to finish. Now I need to wait for someone to tell me they are sick.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

It was a totally amazing day & I have tried to take photos of most of my gifts. the ones not shown are a Lavender neck wrap, some skin stuff & a prison break magazine! Oh & some fun knickers my mate got me with Wentworth Miller's name on!!!!

One of these pictures is a table groaning with fabulous stash I was given/bought with gift voucher. then there are the cards. I know some are still in the post & never mind, it is still my birthday until 19th March 2008!!!

Monday, March 19, 2007

Well it is here, today I am forty! Yup, the big 40 has finally got me!!!I'm told Life now begins & I really hope this is the case.I was told my surprise for the day last night. My friend has booked me in for a French Manicure & full face make up before being taken to a professional photographer for a portrait photo shoot!!!!!!I get a free photo too, but there is the option to buy some more. So I am quite excited, but nervous. I hate my photo taken. I'm sure he/she will do a fab job & I hope to share the pic with you all soon.Deciding what to wear was the fun part, but I have decided on my black gown that I wore for my sister's recent wedding.So far I have some amazing cards & gifts. Thank You all so far for the wonderful wishes, the cards & the pressies!!!I will show & tell later in the week. Right now I need to get myself another big mug of tea!!!

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Saturday, March 17, 2007

The Dare for this week;Firstly make a list of 10-20 crafty items you have in your stash, whether it be brads, ribbons, peel-off's, craft robo, dies, stamps, glittter, buttons, flowers, patterned papers, paint... You get the idea! Give them all a number or print them out a sheet and pop them in a hat all folded up.Next, ask someone non-crafty to either pick 3-5 of your numbers or pieces of paper from your from your hat.Finally, make a card using ONLY the items chosen. A card blank, some sort of sticky stuff and your basic craft tools are allowed If you want to make it really challenging, list plenty of items that you haven't used in a while, or thought you may never use again!My 3-5 items were chosen by a friend seeing as though I'm single

Thursday, March 15, 2007

We were prompted to make a note for ourselves. I have notes all over the place, usual in the form of lists!!! Do this, get that & Im sure I'm not alone!! Having made it I fell so in love with the papers that I made a few spring time cards too.The papers are Dena's closet. Small blooms are Just flowers large bloom Doodlebug cupcake.

Pink tag was in a card/scrap embellishment kit from the local craft shop within the garden centre. small heart bling papermania.

I so love spring colours. Autumn is my favourite season for rich colour, but spring always makes me yearn for Laura Ashley & Cath Kidston products. All those amazing soft "sugared almond" colours. Do you remember those sweets, you can still buy them. I always think of my Grandma as we had them when we visited her.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Papers are K&Co Juliana & a strip of purple as I had no ribbon that quite went with these colours.Heart from my GF Pearl (with pink 3D gloss paint border), flowers in 3 sizes Just pots, small square brad, Queen & Co.I like to make my cards blank sometimes as many people look at some of the ones I have pre made & say, "Oh that would have been perfect if it just said.."So I add greetings once they decided on the design they want. Many want to include the persons name to make them that little bit more personal, a popular one being To My special Friend, name.Hope you like this, I plan to do a few more with this sketch in mind, unless mojo clears off while I'm back at work this afternoon!!!! Look I even captured a bit of dappled sunlight for you!

I've woken later than planned, got nothing completed to show, although by teatime I will have the DCM LE card sketch finished.

I'm a bit tired & therefore a grouchy pixie.

My mouth is a bit sore again but am battling to fight them off as my birthday is now 5 days away!!!

I also go round all the blogs first thing with a mug of tea, or two ( in a china mug of course!) but I haven't had time for that either, so apologies ladies I will get round later.

I did acomplish something good last night, I tidied up my finances (no wonder I'm emotionally drained!!) Sadly there are no funds for scrap stash, which would have been the ideal solution to my problems, but not to worry, I do have some lovely bits & pieces to play with if mojo is up for it!!!!!

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Floral pink candle from WoolworthsFake floral arrangement from a small shop in LincolnPlastic Sunflowers in metal pitcher

You must all have some. Those tiny things you don't think about all the time, or even see a lot of the time. Then something happens to cause you to look at them & you smile & feel that fuzzy warm "happy" feeling inside.

Well you all know my sofa is the best one for this, & yesterday I was able to complete the details for the payment of it, having bought it free for a year. (well the interest was best off in my account!!!)

These other 3 things are true "happy bringers". The candle has an amazing scent & just every now & then, you catch it. I was laying on the sofa with my novel, & I just happened to smell the aroma. I looked up & smiled at the candle. Now, I know that sounds like I've gone mad but, yes, I smiled at it because it is so pretty.

The fake blooms in the glass vase bring back bittersweet memories. The day they were purchased was incredible. My sister & I were shopping for ourselves, not food or other boring crud, US, & we had a great day. Then Nigel, BIL, met us for a drink & a bite to eat in our favourite pub & eating establishment, The Wig & Mitre & Brown's Pie shop.

We went home & opened wine to round off the day nicely. Despite all the sad memories of Nigel's loss, this day always stays with me as one of the very best.

I think the sunflowers are pretty self explanatory, when the sun streams in through the glass in the back door, it lights them up & I feel happy.

If you have made it this far down without falling asleep, well done!!

Now I challenge you to look around your home & spot the "little things". Link back to me if you want so I can see what your "happy bringers" are.

My friend Joy, once described her kitchen to me & it sounded so pretty, I wanted to be there & sit & drink tea out of china, (well it is a fact, I am a snob, because I will only drink tea from a china mug, it tastes so much better!) :0)

Monday, March 12, 2007

This I have made for my boss. His mum is 60, same day as my 40th birthday, & his wife asked me to make the card. I made one very similar in January for Janet, our colleagues 60th.I hate Mondays right now. The weekend goes too fast, I woke up to a bright day & all I can think of is the things I could do that time ran out for over the weekend!!!

Sunday, March 11, 2007

This page has been created with the fabulous papers & some of the bits Gillian sent me.I wanted a page to celebrate these three women & what they gave to me as a Creative Legacy.They feature in an early post on 7th March, my Mum's anniversary.

The background paper is Urban Lily, babylily, Denim Stripe & down the left hand side, I have used the second half of the babylily, denim. (the other piece was last month for the singer collage page I did, which should be in my flickr sidebar, if you dont remember it)The big button in the centre of the bloom was given to me off Jade's cardi. (she works with me & gives me ribbon & bits from clothing!)The title was cut from basket weave card & the words were selected by my UKS team mate Annie, a.k.a. ScrapperSlapper. I asked all the girls to help me out as nothing worked!!The journal tag is hidden behind the photo & I have took a photo of it on its own. The bead can be seen amongst the fibres. Another of the bits Gillian gave me. There are still more bits left & still one sheet of paper, so we will see what I can produce from that!!!!!!

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Today is music change & boy have I torn my hair out!!It's getting harder to find videos that will actually play. This one is okay but there is an annoying advert first!!!!!Fading Like A Flower - Roxette.I have made a layout, but the camera batteries are on charge so I will have to share in the morning.Thought I'd do the cosmetic changes now to save time.

Friday, March 09, 2007

Today's dare is Jo & she say's, I challenge you to make a hero themed card. It could be a card for the Hero in your life or a Superhero themed card....

I often make cards to send as little notes & this is one to put on stand by for a friend who loves to shop, loves bling 'n' things & is taking an improtant exam in a weeks time. So this fun card will be going to her whether she passes or not, though I have every confidence she will.Papers are papermania, stamps free in PI, pink bling stones also papermania.I love pink & black together as much as I love pink & chocolate. I know Louise does too.

Today, my Dad semi retires, he is 65. I'm sure he will go out tonight with the best friends of my Stepmum to celebrate with 4 or 5 pints of Greens!!!

My stepmum passed away almost 3 years ago, & her two best friends "look after" him each weekend & make sure he doesn't get drunk!!!! That's usually because, Carol is busy drinking him under the table, while Anne organises him!! (she sorts card buying etc because we all know what men can be like!)

I made this card for him using a card making paper pack. They are useful for emergencies such as lost mojos. The watch image is a watch & compass my Dad was given years ago by an old sea captain. I turned the photo blue to match the colour scheme.

Good news, I think my mojo is returning. It visited me yesterday & I have a half finished 12" layout, which I am very pleased with. I'm using the other half of the Urban Lily, Babylily, Denim paper I used on my Sewing machine collage. The card dare is up at 10am, & I'm hoping for a weekend of crafting, in between various appointments I have arranged, because it is finally Friday!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Thank You for all the kind words regarding my last post. It made a sad day bearable.

This week we were given a recipe again. Make whatever you want as long as you use 3 different patterned papers, 3 buttons & 3 ribbons.Papers are K&Co, La Boutique. Flowers are from a string of lace purchased on a market stall & the individual flowers cut free. Buttons papermania. Ribbons are a mix & I used 3 different ones.Centre floral was from the market, spotted blue & silver lemon are sticky ribbon from papermania.The card is actually made to say thank you to someone who altered a pair of trousers for me. My suit is getting worn & I needed more trousers for work, but being small, 4ft 11in it is a nightmare. Short length used to be 27", I am 26 1/2". Now short is 29". So tell me, go on, who decided to raise the height for short people, are we migets if we are under???

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

She is in the middle of this photograph. I believe this was taken in 1973, I may be wrong.

The people on either side are Kath, my Dad's sister & Grandma, his Mum, who passed away April 2002 .

I don't have a lot of photos, but this is one of my favourite.

I hate March in many ways. Mother's day is just around the corner & it hurts to see all the wonderful things you can give your Mum to show her how much she means to you.

My dad has his birthday on Friday, he has never really celebrated it since this day in 1974. My 40th birthday is in 12 days.

I am very lucky to have inherited my Mum's skills as a sewing machinist. I can make my own curtains & soft furnishings & I even made a skirt once using one of my Mum's patterns. She made all our dresses & trousers.

Grandma was the knitter, although my Mum could knit. Grandma made all my cardis & jumpers. I was very well dressed!!

I can crochet although it is wobbly as I am left handed, but they could only teach me with my right hand. I can even darn socks as my Grandma taught me how.

I am proud to have these genes from two amazing women. So today I always pay tribute to both of them as I rarely think of one without the other. For in laws, they truly seemed more like blood relatives.

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Here are the Art Journal cards for challenges week 7, Shoes, week 8, something I miss & week 9, What Inspires me!Sadly the light reflects on them a bit & you can't quite see the white stickers on the inspire card. A picture of the books beside my bed. Reading fills my head with creative words which can often translate to designs.Shoes, I hate them!!! The pair pictured are a year old & it has taken me a year to be able to wear them without bleeding & blistering!! I bought two pairs exactly the same as the first pair were so comfy I wore them until they dropped off my feet. This pair were hideous!!The middle card was orignally be going to be my BIL, Nigel, who i miss very much. Then I thought about Grandma who I also miss & my Mum, who I can barely remember but miss a lot all the same.I will be posting about my Mum tomorrow.

Monday, March 05, 2007

That was the request from a work colleague today. She wanted something quite plain & simple with white flowers for her daughter's birthday. At least I can share this with you!I came home & made it straight away. I didn't feel daunted as I have done for the last few days.I still have one to make for another colleague, but I am happy that I could make this.

I have 3 Art Journal cards to make now & I think two are going to be so simple. I have a desire for small. The space isn't too hard to fill. I really hope I can go back to a 12" page soon as I have a great idea to do with the book extract. I just can't get it to work for me!! Perhaps reading all weekend has taken my mind off everything. I am still tired but feeling great to have no pain in my mouth & the sniffles are going slowly.

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Well I have had a restful weekend of laying around a lot & reading. I have made a card which I can't share as it is for my Dad's birthday on the 9th.None of my pages are working & I think I need a break. So after some housework, I read lots. I often finding reading novels fills me with creative ideas.The new pencil lines sketch goes live at 8pm, so who knows I might just get back some inspiration.....Meanwhile onto the Sunday blog Prompt by Scrappyfairy on UKS......I have thought about today's prompt - it was inspired by one of our residents that has an OCD - and has a strict regime of moves around the house before he can move on with his day.. so the question is"Are you superstitious, or do you have an OCD style need to do certain things in certain situations? Do you know why you are superstitious?"Oh boy am I superstitious!!!!I'm paranoid about magpies, though I know darn well whether you speak to them or not doesn't make the blind bit of difference, I do it anyhow!Ladders don't bother me, but then you aren't going to walk under something in case some one drops something on your clean suit (well I know mine is machine washable but can't get out of work because it isn't clean!!)I always say White Rabbits & will not have a calendar showing on the last day of the month. I turn them over faced down so no one can see them until the day changes!!!! Why, I can't tell you!!!My Grandma was very superstitious & she had a thing about washing on a certain day of the year. It must not be done as it would wash people away. I can't for the life of me remember which day it was but it worried me. She would also refuse to have blue & green together. I personally think they look great but it was a sign of death for her.As for OCD's. Mine has to be re arranging things when people move them. If a placemat is moved the wrong side of the coffee table, or cushions sat on, I will wait politely for them to leave then everything has to be put back!!! I'm not obssessionally tidy, but my motto is "a place for everything & everything in its place". I'm not super house proud, but things do have homes & i like them there!!So hey, perhaps I am!!!!

Saturday, March 03, 2007

That is the dare for this week. Make a card that is different from your signature designs.Well, to be honest, I don't have A signature design. Every card I design is usually for a purpose & I very rarely make two the same. Except when asked if I have made something & two people want it!!!However, if I am to truly step out of my comfort zone, then it is to copy someone else's design.I only make my own so copying someone else's is scary.I saw this design by Brenda Walton, a designer for the company K&Co.I have adapted it of course to make it my own, but it appealed to me.It is based on an envelope & I have used a big metal floral brad & label tag, which I very recently recieved from a dear friend, Pearl.Papers are K&Co. Pansy at the bottom of the card is a real pressed one.

The light isn't too hot today & the brad doesn't stand out too well. but, I could wait all day & still not get a better shot of it!!

While reading my book, Vanishing Acts, by Jodi Picoult, I came across a paragraph that made me all fuzzy & warm in that happy kind of way.

I related to some of the words & I thought I'd share them.

"You can boil your life down to a single suitcase, if you desperately have to. Ask yourself what you really need, & it won't be what you imagine. You can easily toss aside unfinished work, & bills & your daily calendar to make room for the pair of flannel pyjamas you wear when it rains; & the stone your child gave you that is shaped like a heart; & the battered paperback you revisit every April, because it was what you were reading the first time you fell in love. It turns out that what's important is not everything that you've accumulated all these years, but those few things you can carry with you."

I think this is so true. I have favourite pjs I wear when I feel low & want that "feeling loved" lift. I eat certain foods "comfort" foods when it rains & blows a gale to make me feel safe & secure.

It made me really happy reading this & I am trying to formulate a page layout from it so hopefully I will have something to show by Saturday.

Their will be a new card dare today at 10am, so hopefully I will have that to make & show too!!!